Drag-line excavator



Dec. 18, 1928.

' C.D.BUOY

DRAG LINE EXCAVATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 50. 1926 Dec. 18, 1928.

Filed Oct. 30, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 18, 1928. 1.6955180 c. D. BuoY DRAG LINE EXCAVATOR Filed Oct. 30, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 /-1 I. [VITA/5.355s:- I CQDQBW Patented s... 18, 1928.-

. UNITED STATES,

I 1,695,489 PATENT oF icE.

CHESTER D. IBUOY, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR '10 G. H. WILLIAMS COMPANY, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

DRAG-LIN E EXGAVATOR.

Application filed October 80, 1926. Serial No. 145,258.

This invention relates to excavating apparatus, and more particularly to an imv provement in drag-line buckets.

Hereto fore it has been the practice to connect the ends of the loading bail directly to the sides of the bucket, and while in some instances it has been proposed to provide several points of anchorage for the ends of the bail along the front edge of the bucket,

nevertheless, that means of connecting the loading bail with the bucket necessarily has limitations which are not only disadvantageous from an operating standpoint because of the limited angle or set that can be given to the cutting edge or teeth of the bucket, but also this arrangement focuses the full force of thepull on the loading bail directly to the sides of the bucket which has a tendenc to cause the same to buckle or cave in. rdinarily the point of attachment for the ends of the bail to the bucket is located midway between the bridge or hood and the lip of the bucket with the result that the intermediate portions of the body of the bucket bear all of the loading strains and stresses, 7

Accordingly, the present invention contemplates as its principal object a novel and practical means for adjustably connecting the loading bail with the bucket for the purpose of regulating the cutting angle of the cutting teeth or cutting edge of the bucket. That 1s to say, it is proposed to provide means for effecting a wide range of adjustment between the loading bail and the bucket through the medium of flexible connections which not only permit of a greater range of adjustment in setting the angle of the cutting edge of the bucket, but also distribute and divide the loading strains to and between the body and the hood of the bridge which is usually of reinforced construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means of connection between the loading bail and the flexible bucket connections or side coupling chains.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the

same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed. v

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a complete bucket illustrating the application of the invention.

' Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectlonal view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the'line 55 of Fig. 1.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view or graph illustrating several of the positions which may be assumed by the bucket according to the adjustment or 'set effected between the clevis of the loading bail and the side couplin chains.

V gimilar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The present invention is adapted for general application to drag-line buckets of various designs. However, for purposes of illustration there has been shown in the draw- .ings a bucket of the heavy-duty type having vided with the novel trunnion members G p which will hereinafter be more fully referred-to which receive the lower ends of the hoisting bail H. This hoisting bail is connected with the sheave block S whose sheave chored thereto one end of the dump rope T.

The loadin bail L is in effect a single looped'mem er having the rear ends thereof adapted for connection to the side coupling members N which are in turn connected to the bucket B.

The side coupling members N are preferably in the form of chains applied to opposite sides of the bucket and each including the links 1, and the ends of said chains are respectively anchored as at 2 and 3 to the sides of the bridge D of the bucket and the lower edges of the sides C thereof as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The connection or anchorage in each instance preferably consists ofa bifurcated bracket 2 and 3" which respectively receive the pins or bolts 2 and 3" These brackets are therefore spaced at a relatively great distance at each side of the longitudinal center of gravity of the bucket, and therefore when a pulling or loading strain is imposed on the coupling chains it will be apparent that the pulling force will be distributed to both the body and bridge or hood of the bucket. Frequently in dragging a bucket over the ground, rocks or layers of hardpan are encountered and it is therefore essential, to avoid the breaking of the chains, and maintain the effective operation of the device, to distribute the pulling load as equally as possible to the bucket to avoid the conse uences of focusing or concentrating the orce directly in the center line of gravity or slightly to either side thereof on the side walls of the bucket.

The rear ends of the loading bail L are connected to the side coupling chains by means of the clevis 4 or its equivalent. As will be observed from Fig. 4.- the said clevis preferably consists of a substantially U- shaped body whose side arms are adapted to straddle one of the links 1 of the side chain while the ends thereof are adapted to be connected by a bolt 5 with one of the end links 6 of the loading bail.

With the arrangement described it will be apparent that each one of the links 1 of the side coupling chains N constitutes a possible point of anchorage for the clevis 4. As shown in Fig. 1 the connection between the loading bail and the side coupling chains is made substantially at the horizontal center of gravity of the bucket B and in that event the cutting edge as well as the cutting teeth of the bucket 'will be held at a relatively slight downward angle so that when the bucket is dragged over the ground or earth by the loading instrumentalities only a relatively shallow cut will be made. If it is desired to connect the loading bail with the side coupling chains at either side of the position shown in Fig. 1, that may be readily accomplished by unfastening the clevis and causing it to engage with the desired link of the side coupling chains, and then connecting the clevis again with the loading bail. If a deeper cut is desired the connection is made with a link 1 nearer the upper end 2 of the chain as shown by the dot-ted line diagram a: in Fig. 6 or on the other hand if a shallower cut is desired the clevis ma be connected with a link below the longitu inal center of gravity of the bucket to cause the teeth to assume a more nearly horizontal or slightly upwardly inclined positionas shown by the dot and dash position of the bucket indicated at y in Fig. 6. As there are a multiplicity of links 1 in the side coupling chain's it will be readily apparent that the degree of adjustment may be very accurately and minutely determined so that the setting of the cutting edge or teeth of the bucket may be readily controlled.

Another feature of the invention resides in reinforcing the side walls C of the bucket bet-ween the zone of the lip E and the bridge or hood I). To that end suitable reinforcing plates 7 may be used, the same having the central reinforcing rib 8 which is disposed longitudinally of the plate and materially stifi'ens and strengthens the same.

Also it may be pointed out that the trunnions G to which the hoisting bail H is connected possesses the novel feature of guarding or housing the ends of the hoisting bail. For instance as shown in Figures 1.

and 5 the trunnions G consist of an attaching body 9 having the ofiset guard wings 10 which are reinforced and stiffened by the spaced ribs 11 and flare rearwardly from the. front edge of the body to provide sufficient space for receiving the lower link of the hoisting bail. The hoisting bail is then connected with the trunnions by placing the same on the roller 12 on the pin or bolt 12. and due to this arrangement the bolt and roller, as well as the end links of the hoisting bail are housed and protected against shearing off if they encounter rock or other obstruction while being dragged through the earth. Furthermore, this arrangement not only guards and protects the connection between the hoisting bail and the trunnions but serves as a deflector to lessen the resistance of the progress of the bucket through the earth. Heretofore it has been the practice to have the connection between the hoisting bail and bucket exposed in such a way that it frequently becomes loose or is broken off with consequent dam age.

From the foregoing it is thought that'the novel features of the invention will be readily apparent. In that connection the important and distinctive feature thereof resides in the novel manner in which the loading bail is connected to the flexible side coupling chains, having the beneficial results pomted-out, while the other features described contribute materially to a practical and successful bucket.

Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it'will of course be understood that changes in the. form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spiritof the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. A drag-line bucket including the combination with a loading bail, of means for adjustably connecting the loading bail to spaced points at each side of the bucket, said means including side chains having a plurality of links therein adapted to be selectively engaged by connecting devices carried by the ends of the loading bail,

2. A drag-line bucket including a body having side walls and a member connecting the same, brackets carried by the side walls and by said member, 'a flexible looped member connecting the brackets at each side of the bucket, and a loading bail having means forengaging any intermediate portion of said flexible members to thereby change the longitudinal center of gravity of the bucket when being. pulled by the loading bail.

a bucket.

4. An adjustable riggingnfor drag-line buckets including a pairof brackets at each side of the bucket,one of said brackets being 'arran ed above the body of the bucket and the ot er of said brackets being arranged at the lower sides of the bucket but above the lip thereof, chain members including individual links connecting each pair of brackets, and means for selectively engaging any link of each chain to control the cutting angle of the bucket when the same is pulled over the earth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

CHESTER D. BUOY. 

